The Latest from “Vibrant and Ethnically Diverse” St. Denis

French authorities announced that overnight, they conducted 118 raids and arrested at least 18. The most dramatic raid took place in St. Denis, where police and military attacked an apartment where the leader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was believed to be hiding. At least two people died, including a woman who blew herself up with a suicide vest, but at this moment it is not clear whether Abaaoud was killed or captured, or is still at large.

The Associated Press report on the raid includes this bit of unintentional humor:

Saint-Denis is one of France’s most historic places. French kings were crowned and buried through the centuries in its famed basilica, a majestic Gothic church that towers over the area. Today the district is home to a vibrant and very ethnically diverse population and sees sporadic tension between police and violent youths.

“Vibrant and ethnically diverse” is frequently-heard code that we all can crack, as are references to “violent youths.” My guess is that at this point, the French think they have about all the vibrant ethnic diversity they need.

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